FEMA Gives Green Light to Hawaiʻi’s Request for North Kohala Fire Assistance: Big Island Now

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Hawaiʻi’s request for assistance in response to the North Kohala fire. The wildfire started on July 28 and burned approximately 1,000 acres before being contained. The approval means that federal funds will be available to help cover the costs of fighting the fire and to support recovery efforts. The assistance will be provided through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which helps state and local governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations, recover from disasters. The funds will help with emergency response costs, debris removal, and repairing or replacing damaged public infrastructure..

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August 8, 2023, 8:45 PM HST

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday approved the State of Hawai‘i’s request for a disaster declaration to provide assistance with the wind-whipped North Kohala wildfire on the Big Island.

The decision under the Fire Management Assistance Grant program opens the door to allow for federal reimbursement of up to 75% of the eligible firefighting costs.

The fire began early Tuesday and threatened about 200 homes in and around Kohala Ranch, a rural community near the northern tip of Hawai‘i Island with a total population of more than 500 people. The fire also was threatening a volunteer fire department, local electrical transmission lines and an AT&T cellular communications tower in the area.

The fire had burned more than 600 acres of State and private land at the time the request was made, and was uncontained. High, gusty winds and dry conditions due to weather caused by passing Category 4 Hurricane Dora put much of Hawai‘i under a Red Flag Warning that continues Wednesday.

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Two other uncontrolled fires were burning on the Big Island and Maui.

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Firefighters in all three incidents have been hampered by the winds, which made it impossible to provide aircraft support for their efforts to contain the flames.

FEMA Region IX Administrator Robert J. Fenton Jr. determined that the Kohala Ranch fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.

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The Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency coordinated the request for assistance and will work with FEMA to identify and track eligible costs.

“We’re grateful to our federal partners for their quick review and decision, which will help Hawai‘i County meet this challenge in Kohala,” said James Barros, administrator of the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a disaster declaration for the State of Hawai’i in response to the North Kohala wildfire. This declaration allows for federal reimbursement of up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs. The fire, which began on Tuesday, threatened approximately 200 homes and other critical infrastructure. At the time of the request, the fire had burned over 600 acres of land and was uncontained. The firefighters have been hindered by strong winds, preventing aircraft support. FEMA determined that the fire posed a major disaster threat, and the Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency will coordinate with FEMA to track eligible costs.

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